DEAR EDITOR:
Fear is a powerful tool of motivation when combined with propaganda. It's a technique of control that many fall prey to without even being aware of it. Fortunately, it can be countered with a solid rebuttal rooted in truth. This letter is written in response to the submission of Karen Combs that was published on July 8 regarding Obamacare.
Her letter wasted no time before it read like a pro-Romney press release with its claim that Obamacare is a "multi-billion dollar tax on middle class families."
That is a lie.
This very lie, manufactured by the usual Republican politicians and pundits, was quickly labeled false multiple times by the fact-checking website, Politifact. Indeed, Miss Combs failed to specify in any capacity how Obamacare raises taxes, and instead merely repeated a GOP talking point that perfectly illustrates how those repeating propaganda are not aware of how they are being manipulated. Approximately $235 million has been spent on ads attacking Obamacare, and letters like that of Karen Combs' are what result when those same campaigns of distortion succeed in deceiving the gullible.
The truth is that the law offers subsidies to help people purchase insurance and, yes, does penalize those who do not purchase insurance. Mitt Romney enacted the same policies in his state of Massachusetts, and a tiny percentage of the population there ended up paying the penalty for not having insurance. Much ado about nothing, eh? While we're at it I will also add that Romneycare, the nigh-on precursor to Obamacare, did not put a bureaucrat between patient and doctor or stifle job creation. It is just that simple, and always has been. Lies turn to ash when exposed to a little bit of sunlight in the form of research.
Obamacare has not been fully enacted yet so it's ridiculous to say that we are suddenly in danger because of the recent, common sense Supreme Court ruling. Most of the law does not take effect until 2014, so unless one has the ability to scry into a different plane of reality, calling the law a "government-takeover" is nothing more than a laughable attempt at political theater, much like the silly Issue 3 campaign of 2011.
I'd like to end this letter with some facts since that is what America needs right now when it comes to Obamacare. The law will assist many Americans by providing them with relief from high premiums by expanding coverage. The law makes it illegal to deny people coverage due to a pre-existing condition or to drop people from coverage, a practice previously known as "recission." The law allows for kids to remain on their parents' insurance until they turn 26. These are fantastic advancements for access to health care insurance, and Rep. Ryan, Sen. Brown, and President Obama deserve credit where it's due.
Why would anyone want to repeal these strides forward? The answer is simple: fear induced by propaganda.
So say "no" to fear-mongers, Ohio, and say hello to Obamacare. It's here to stay.
Robert Heltzel
Niles